Fall is one of my absolute favorite times in the Smokies! I love the beautiful colors on display as the leaves change; I revel in the crispness of the fall mountain air and adore all of the events taking place at this time in Gatlinburg. If this is the time of year that you make your annual trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, then here is a reminder of all the wonderful things you will want to check out. If you are trying to decide if this will be the year that you make your first pilgrimage to the inviting

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As I walked into my favorite hometown restaurant last Sunday, I quickly came to the realization that fall is upon us. In fact, I have found that in many restaurants and stores, the beginning of fall decorations- -changing leaves, scarecrows, cornucopias and the like- -have actually been completely skipped over in favor of cute kids’ costumes and black and orange Halloween decorations. I have even spotted the errant Christmas tree, tucked in a not-so-inconspicuous corner of the store! I am a consumer, and I am not fooled by this flit skip of the pure enjoyment of fall, in the absence

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Every year on September 11th, thousands of ceremonies and memorials are held all across the country for those who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks and related attempts.  This year, on the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks, the City of Gatlinburg will be holding a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza. [caption id="attachment_700" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="The Freedom Tower in NYC 8/20/11."][/caption] Beginning at 8:30AM on Sunday, this ceremony will be led by Ripley’s Entertainment Executive Terrylynn Battson. Battson’s son, Paul, was working at a building adjacent to the World Trade Centers

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The Smoky Mountains on almost any given night are going to give visitors to the area a beautiful sky gazing opportunity. The picturesque nature of the area allows for such sights to be taken in and enjoyed. On a few special nights of the year the sky becomes excessively clear and is perfect for star gazing activities. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the Smoky Mountains Astronomical Society (SMAS) hosts events called Star Parties, which are open to any and all who are interested in taking part in absorbing the beautiful mountain night sky. The SMAS hosts start parties

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The Smoky Mountain region carries with it a rich heritage and culture. Likewise, the communities around the Smokies have helped establish the rustic, down-home atmosphere and mountain culture that hold strong throughout the region. Pigeon Forge is one such community, and with the upcoming Heritage Day event at the city's Old Mill landmark, this is one area that is showcasing some of the culture that has helped to make the Smokies such a unique place! This year the 8th annual Old Mill Heritage Day is set for September 24th. From 10 in the morning until 6 in the evening, there

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Do you or someone in your family have a love for cars? To be more specific, do you or that family member enjoy lusting over classic cars from the past? If this is the case, and you or your family happen to be planning a vacation to Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains, then you might think of planning it around the beginning of September. This will ensure that your vacation coincides with the famous Shades of the Past Rod Run, an annual car show event in Pigeon Forge. 2011 marks the 29th edition of this much-loved event. On September 9th

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With the heat of summer upon us, it’s hard to imagine that fall is right around the corner. Autumn is one of the most popular times to visit Gatlinburg, with the changing of the leaves coloring the beautiful Smoky Mountains.  The cooler air welcomes guests and families as they explore the Gatlinburg Parkway and venture into the fall foliage at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you’re ringing in the season of fall in Gatlinburg, you won’t want to miss the Taste of Autumn event on September 15th! Held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, this event draws more than

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Have you ever wondered what the Gatlinburg area was like before the shops, stores and restaurants came to be? In the early years, the area was filled with eager settlers yearning to build their homes and businesses from the ground up. Prominent people and their families such as E.E. Maples, Wiley Oakley, Radford Gatlin and settled throughout the town, documenting their day-to-day life on home video. At the Vintage Views Film Premiere on August 27th, you can catch a glimpse of these early settlers through their donated home movie clips. The film has been collected by Gatlinburg City Videographer Kevin

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Picture this scenario…you and your family are on your Smoky Mountain vacation, the summer is nearing an end, and the kids are excited and ready to get back to school. You are already familiar with the areas of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge and know that they offer some of the best shopping around.  Now imagine this…a tax-free, back to school shopping extravaganza! An ever popular weekend at the area’s malls and outlets, Tennessee’s Sales Tax Holiday will be August 5th – 7th, 2011. You and your family can enjoy a tax-free holiday on your vacation, saving valuable money on clothing,

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Are you ready to speed up the fun on your summer Gatlinburg vacation? This year’s Gatlinburg event calendar is filled with exciting raft races, river runs and other fun activities for you and your family to participate in – or perhaps just spectate! Gatlinburg attractions are also speeding up the excitement with go-kart tracks, fun rides and more. So if you and your family have a need for speed during your Gatlinburg cabin vacation, check out these family-friendly and fun events! River Raft Regatta - Celebrating the 4th of July in Gatlinburg is truly a blast, from the “Stand Here”

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